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Peterborough’s leading housing association has taken handover of the newly restored Priestgate Court following a multi-million pound investment.

Cross Keys Homes in partnership with local developer Lindum Peterborough have transformed a former derelict grade II listed historic office building into 29 exclusive apartments.

The apartments are located opposite Peterborough’s Museum and will provide much needed affordable housing right in the city centre.

Cross Keys Homes’ Director of Resources, Julian Foster, said: “We are very grateful for the grant support we have received from the Homes and Communities Agency and our partnership arrangement with Lindum Peterborough on this development. We also appreciate the support given by Peterborough City Council and Peterborough Civic Society to this scheme.”

Julian added: “We are really delighted to be providing affordable housing right in the heart of Peterborough and will continue to support the National Housing Federation’s ‘yes to homes’ campaign so that we can continue to build more of the right homes, in the right places and at the right price."

Work on the £3 million development started in January 2013 with three new and three refurbished blocks now forming part of this complex.

Lindum Peterborough’s Managing Director, Mick Papworth, added: “Lindum is very proud as a company to have been selected as the local building contractor to partner with Cross Keys Homes on this challenging project. We believe together we have been able to turn a once derelict site into high quality, modern new homes, with the new build being carefully designed to blend in with the existing Georgian architecture.

“The finished apartments are in a great location and will provide much needed homes for the city.”

Chair of Peterborough Civic Society, Peter Lee, added: “Peterborough Civic Society first saw a comprehensive scheme for residential conversion of these important city centre conservation area buildings and adjacent new build in 2008. That scheme, by another, did not proceed and the buildings stood vacant and neglected. So the Society was especially pleased to be able to support the quality Cross Keys Homes’ scheme in 2012.

“We feel that the scheme is a courageous and principled approach to several important challenges - the pioneering introduction of a residential scheme into this office quarter, the rescue and adaptation of important listed buildings from continuing deterioration, and the introduction of well-mannered new buildings into this sensitive location.

“The scheme is expected to set the standard for further housing schemes in the city centre by demonstrating the viability and establishing the popularity of city centre living in Peterborough.”

All of the properties are being offered for shared ownership helping people who are unable to get a foot onto the property ladder to buy a share of the property and pay rent on the remainder.

Nine of the apartments have already been reserved and ten applications have been received for the remaining properties.

If you are interested in shared ownership and would like to know more about the properties Cross Keys Homes have remaining, call Shanise Fowler on: 01733 396406 or you can view the remaining apartments by visiting: www.crosskeyshomes.co.uk/priestgate